Venetian blind



May 7, 1940- A l E. E. woLFE I 2,200,143

VENETIAN BLIND Filed July 24, 1939 INVENTOR. [fm/57' T /f//abL-f.

BY Zad e/C ATTORNEY.

willi Patented Mai?,

PATENT orf-fics y nam inwoner Annalen. Calif., mignon- :o lletal'lape Complny,LolAngelea, Callfacor poration of--Calii appliques July 2'4, 193s. serial No. 286,125

s claim. wl. 15e- 17) My invention has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved construction for Venetian blinds and'has particular reference tometallinkswhichastapesorchainsare especially constrlmted for use with thin metalV slats such as the extremely Ythinnexible spring steel type now popular, and comprehends parts and. elements whichare constructed and l relatively arranged' asrto permit of a tight closing of the slats, a 00th and reliable tilting and raising and lowering action of the slats, a ilreproof construction throughout, an ease of as- V sembnng the blind, and the provision for holding all hinge joints under such tension as to prevent rattling and insure the retention of the blind in positions to which Another purpose of my invention is to provide as an -article of manufacture a metal tape or chain made upbf hinged links and slat attaching clips and subject to convenient and efficient use in making up Venetian blindsof thin slats, particularly, extremely thin exible spring steel slats that are curved 'in cross-section, said tape or chain of links not only making possible a quicker and easier assembly of a Venetian blind without requiring any changes in the construction of the slats, but providing for effectively strength. ening the blind, affording a tighter closing thereoi and rendering the operation of the blind easier and more reliable. l

A further purpose is to provide a Venetian blind of the character described wherein the links between slats extend outwardly and downwardly therefrom in small folded compass when the blind is collapsed in raised position, whereby the blind may be collapsedin smaller compass horizontally as well as vertically and will not occupy appreciable space in these directions in the window opening. n

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind of the character described wherein the metal links between slats will intert or nest so, that the slats may be closely engaged and overlapped when closed.

A further purpose to provide a Venetian blind wherein a resill t bracket for holding the blind in place ex a spring action tending to tilt the foot rail when the blind is adjusted to close the slats, thereby insuring and maintaining a tight closing action."

I have shown in theaccompanying drawing a preferred form of Venetian blind embodying my invention, subject, however, to lodiiication within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit oi' my' invention.

`Renal-ringethedrawing: y -y- Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary perspective `view of a Venetian blind embodying my invention.. showing parts in cross-section.

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view of the bund 5 l' as when raised and collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the blind as when the slats are overlapped and closed.

rig. 4 is an enlarged dem section showing the 1omanner ot securing the links to the slats.

Fig. 5 is a composite elevational view oi' one oi' the links.

Fig. 6 is a composite elevational view of one of the other or companion links. 15

One form of Venetian blind embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing and includes a tiltable head rail A adapted to be supported in -a window frame not shown in any suitable manner, a blind B depending therefrom,

`a tiltable foot rail C, a spring bracket D for resiliently holding the foot rail in place and conventional means including a cord E operable in the usual manner for raising and lowering the blind. The blind may be tilted by hand or with any conventional means for disposing therslats at different angles. Since the means for sup-f porting the head rail A and the tilting means form no part of the present invention, illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

` My invention deals primarily with the means for connecting and supporting the slats S of the blind. As here shown the slats .are formed of iiexible and very thin steel strips lor plates which are arcuate in cross section to provide the 'l necessary strength and rigidity,- each slat having transverse slots] whereby the cord E attached to the foot rail may be extended upwardly through said slats to the head rail A andthev slats may be tilted as desired relative to said cord. The means for connecting and supporting said .slats comprises a plurality of metal tapes or chains T made up of a series of links 8 and 9 and slat attaching clips I0 hingedly connected with one another.l 'I'he links. 8 are provided at 45 their lower ends with laterally spaced tongues Il separated by a slot I2 whereas the upper ends of the links 9 are provided with T shaped slots I3 forming hinge bars Il around which the tongues are bent as eyes I5 wherebyto form the 50 hinge joints H in the chain or tape of links. The clips I0 are attached at the hinge joints H and are in the form oi narrow metal strips, thev outer ends oi' which. are bent around the hinge bars Il aseyes I6 disposed'between the eyes 55 2 ls and extending mio the r shaped 5101s la as shown in Fig. 4. AThe lower ends of thelinks 9 are formed with longitudinal slits I1 defining Ytongues I8 separatedby a wider tongue .I9. Thesetongues IIii and I9 are rst bent so as to Y permit of the insertion therebetween of the pintles 20 formed on the upper end of the links 8,7following which the tongues I8 are bent into S shape while 4the tongues I9 remain comparatively straight and form with tongue I8 barrels Afor hingedly accommodating the pintles 20 for forming the hinge joints J. The ends 2I of the tongues I8 and I9 are bent to engage the inner Iacesof the links- 8 as stops, for limiting the hinge action to an outward extension of the links 8 and 9 as will be later described. It Vwill now be seen that the-` links 8 and 9 as here constructed 'and as connected by meansV of the hinge joints H and J, provide metal tapes to which -by reason ofthe clips I0, likewise hinged to the joints H, the metal slats may be readily and easily connected in thek formation of a Venetian..blind structure.

The attachment of the slats to the tapes T is eiected by extending the clips I0 from outer edges of the slats beneath the latter as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and bending the inner ends of the clipsas at 22 up through the slots 'I so as to lie upon the upper faces thereof. The outer ends 23 of these clips are disposed to overlie the slats as shown in Figs; 2 and 4 and in this manner the clips I0 securely hold the slats on the tapes or chains T. It is then seen that the joints H are disposed at the edges of the slats whereas the joints J are intermediate the slats and therefore the spacing between the slats is substantially equal to the length of one of the links 8 plus its companion link 9. In other words there are provided between slats a plurality of two-section links eachv consisting of a link 8 and a link 9. 'Ihe lowermost link is hinged to a footrail carried hinge member C', whereas the uppermost link is hinged to eyes A on the head rail A.

Due to the fact that the links 8 are shorter than and disposed below the links 9, between each pair of slats, and the ends 2l act to limit the 4inward movement 0f the links 011 the hinge tend into portions of said slots when the slats vof joint J to prevent 'inwardV folding thereof, it is seen that when the footrail C is raised and the blind collapses on said rail, the links will fold on the joints J so as to extend downwardly and outwardlyfrom the longitudinal edges of the slats as shown in Fig. 2. Thus the blind is folded into small compass and takes up comparatively little room horizontally and vertically.

Whether the slats S are tilted by hand or other means, it is seen that they may be tightly closed when desired as shown in Fig. 3, and likewise partly or fully opened. Y 'I'he shanks of the T shaped slots I3 in the links 9 are adapted to receive the clips I0 as shown in Fig. 4 to permit of bringing the slats closer together for tightly closing the blind.

It should be noted that the lower end of the blind is resiliently held inplace by the spring metal bracket D which has hook ends 24 engaged with trunnions 25 on upstanding ears 26 of the foot rail C. When the footrail turns or tilts with the tilting of the blind the spring bracket exerts a leverage through theears 26 tending to turn or tilt the footrail and maintain the parts in position to which adjusted. The spring action oi the bracket D takes up all slack and preventsA rattling of all parts of the blind.

It should be noted that the tapes or chains 2,200,143 l'i' of links Yare cenni-detengan they maybe readily machine made and assembled in ed lengths for immediate use in maklng up Venetian i blinds composed of relatively thin slats` and that no change in the standard construction of such slats is required. Y f

I claim:

l. A strap for connecting andvsupportingA the slats of a Venetian blind, comprising a plurality of Vhingedly joined links andslat attaching clips of which the clips are connected with certain hinge joints of said links whereby the other hinge joints will be disposed between the slatsjmeans embodiedatsaid other hinge joints for limiting the hinge action of said links sothat they ,will

extend outwardly from the slats, certain of said -means embodied at said other hinge ljoints for limiting the hinge action ci' said links so that they will extend outwardly from the slats, certain of said .links being shorter than the others whereby the links will extend downwardly as well as outwardlywhen the blind is collapsed,

certain of said links having slots thereinlnto which portions of said clips may extend for aifording a tight -closing of said slats.

` 3. A strap for connecting and supporting the slats of a Venetian blind comprising a plurality of hingedly joined links and slat attaching clips,-

certain of said links having T shaped slots therein dening at certain ends thereof transverse hinge bars, laterally spacedv tongues at certain ends of the other of said links, adapted to be bent around said hinge bars as eyes, and eyes formed on certain terminals of said clips and vsurrounding said hinge bars and disposed between the rst named eyes for-hingedly connecting the clips with the links, said cups being adapted to exthe .fblind are tilted. A

4: A strap for connecting' and supporting the slats of a Venetian blind4 comprises a plurality of hingedly joined links; and slat attaching clips,l

-of the blind are tilted, tongues formed on the other ends of Vsaid certain links and bendable -i'or 'forming hinge barrels, and pintles formed on the other ends of said other links and rotatable in said barrels.

5. A strap for connecting and supporting-the slats of a Venetian blind, comprising a plurality of hingedly joined links and slat attaching clips, certain of said links having T shaped slots therein denning at certain ends thereof transverse hinge lbars, laterally spaced tongues at certain ends of the other of said links adapted to be bent around said hinge bars as eyes, and. eyes formed on certain terminals .of said clips and surrounding said hinge bars and disposed between the rst named eyes for hingedly connecting the clips with the links, said clips being adapted to extend into portions of said slots when the slats of the blind are tilted, tongues formed on the other ends of said certain links and bendable for forming hinge barrels, and pintles formed on the other ends of` said other links and rotatable in said barrels, said last named tongues having tery minals bent to serve as stops for limiting the hinge movement of said links at the hinge joints formed by said barrels and pintles.

6. A Venetian blind including a tiltable head rail, tapes suspended therefrom, atiltable foot rail supported by said tapes, each of said tapes including a plurality of hingedly joined links and slat attaching clips, slats secured to said clips and means for tiltably and resiliently holding said foot rail so as to place said links and clips under tension.

1. A Venetian blind including a tiltable head rail,` tapes suspended therefrom, a tiltable foot rail supported by said tapes, each of said tapes including a plurality of hingedly joined links and| slat attaching clips, slats secured to said clips and means for tiltably and resiliently detachably holding said tapes under tension.

8. A Venetian blind including a tiltable head rail, tapes suspended therefrom, a tiltable foot rail supported by said tapes, each of said tapes including a plurality of hingedly joined links and slat attaching clips, slats secured to said clips and means for tiltably and resiliently holding said foot rail so as to place said links and clips under tension, including upstanding members on said foot rail, lateral trunnions on said upstanding members and spring metal Ibrackets in tensioned engagement with said trunnions.

9. A Venetian blind including a plurality of suspended tapes, a tiitable foot rail supported by said tapes, each of said tapes including a plu' rality of hingedly connected links, slats connected with links of said tapes, upstanding members on said foot rail, trunnions on said upstanding members, and spring metal brackets in tensioned engagement with said trunnions for exerting a downward pressure thereon.

ERNEST E. woman. 25 

